Tyrian Times – Dark Tidings Approach

Tyrian Times- Dark Tidings Approach

By Meredith Watson, OnRPG Tyrian Reporter

Halloween is now over but wasn’t that fun? Possibly one of the best MMO Halloween events but it really is too early to tell. Will there still be novelty in it next year and will ArenaNet change it up? I know in games such as World of Warcraft and EverQuest II the same Halloween events have been happening for years and fail to excite those that have done it for several years running. Once you’ve done the headless horseman three million times trying to get an epic ring or clean up dirt piles again in a haunted house it gets a bit passé. Hopefully, ArenaNet will mix it up year to year but it doesn’t seem too likely. However, it was good fun.

Act IV

The portal to the Mad Realm has been closed but Mad King Thorn was still about telling bad jokes as he was in Guild Wars. It was a bit anti-climatic after the excitement of Act III but still entertaining. Now, as of early November, you can find Mad King Thorn in Lion’s Arch but it is really just some guy in a Mad King Thorn costume which is a clear nod to the Guild War version of the character. He is handing out witches hats (account bound). So if you haven’t gotten yours yet make your way to Lion’s Arch before time runs out.

Lost Shores Event

The November event is soon upon us. There is a new poster in Lion’s Arch that ArenaNet released half of on Twitter and the other half on Facebook with cryptic messages from them such as “pack your bags” and “time for a vacation”. Sounds lovely. A nice holiday in the sun perhaps? Don’t pack your swimming costume just yet. The official Guild Wars 2 site has this to say: Something stirs in the Sea of Sorrows…Unravel a mystery of monstrous proportions in the Lost Shores, a one-time massive event that will change Tyria forever.

The translation of the mysterious holiday poster reads as follows (translated from New Krytan):

Avast! Ahoy all ye landlubbers! The hardworking members of the consortium are proud to announce the upcoming unveiling of your dream vacation! Coming soon we will open the gate – the asura gate – connecting Lion’s Arch to a veritable tropical paradise of magnificent proportions!

Swim in the radiant waters*! Relax on the beach*! Dance the night away*! Prepare to hoist your jolly roger and to embark on a most majestic adventure with your favorite band of salty dogs!

Arr You Ready?

*Towels not included. The consortium cannot be held responsible for aquatic-related and rhythmic-related injuries (or other injuries related to misadventure or otherwise general buffoonery). Our medical staff will be on-call to happily ignore your needs should they inevitable arise.

We don’t know what is going to happen with the next event but we do have some other clues aside from the humorous yet possibly misleading poster mentioned above. If you go to the beach front near Sanctum Harbour Waypoint you will find a strange warning sign and a very large beached whale. Around the whale are water buckets that can be used to wet the whale for whatever, unknown at this time, reason. The translation of the warning sign is as follows:

If you look out into the harbour you will also find a mysterious new ship with a distinct symbol. There are other ships around Lion Arch as well including one underwater bearing the same symbol. You may also notice if you are having a dip in the waters around Lion’s Arch that dolphins and humpback whales have appeared. What ever could it mean?

Not far from the Claw Island Portage waypoint is a new house with a non-working asura gate. It is reported that there are posters in the house though not always visible. Both posters are said to be in New Krytan and Ashodian and are translated as:

Beware

Flesh-eating swarms

Lion’s Arch Authorities are diligently combating an unstoppable onslaught of flesh-eating swarms. We apologize for the inconvience. We ask that, for your own safety, to stand close and to let our professionals die horribly so that you may continue to live. If you rank yourself among the righteous then by all means assist in the extermination process. We are certain that somewhere, someone at some time will be grateful for your heroic, if not pointless, sacrifice.

Warning

Dangerous sea monsters

Lion’s Arch Authorities kindly remind all visitors that sea monsters have rendered our beaches unsafe for the general public. Should you choose to ignore this warning then upon your inevitable, grisly demise members of our local pirate population will insure the fair division of your remaining, worldly possessions. Despite your potential horrible end, find comfort in the knowledge that you will soon no longer care and that you will have made a generous contribution to those who, ironically, have more respect of the rules than you do.

Whatever ArenaNet have up their sleeves for us, it should be a great time. They aren’t doing anything by halves it would seem. What do you think it all means? Are you as excited for the November update as we are?